Klarissa Martinez is a Houston native that was originally a softball player. She won two national tournaments that fulfilled her softball dreams. But she did not start taking soccer seriously until her sophomore year of high school. She was always around the game since she was young. Watching her older brothers play, while she had her own little ball on the sideline. With the switch to playing club soccer that sparked a new interest to play in college.

Klarissa just finished up her junior year season with the TLU women’s soccer team. During the season she played a pivotal role for her team. She got her teammates involved by leading the team in assists and being reliable to make plays. This year she earned All SCAC Second Team, SCAC player of the week and has played in her second SCAC championship game this pass Sunday. After playing Klarissa was named to the All SCAC Tournament Team.

In watching Klarissa play in multiple games this year something that I saw most consistently was the hustle and effort. She never gives up especially when she has the ball at her feet. Klarissa is always trying to take advantage of the one on one match ups and is looking for the next shot to take.

At the beginning of the season I watched Klarissa play against Hardin Simmons University, who is a tough opponent. During the game, there was a moment where Klarissa had the ball but got hurt. The defender made an aggressive tackle as she was trying to make a pass. She got up limping and I thought she was going to be subbed out. But she brushed it off and In the next play Klarissa tried to make a header for her team.

While watching the game, it’s impressive to see the goals, the footwork, and passes made. However, I think what makes Klarissa a great player is her “Go Get It” mentality.

If you were to ask me who Klarissa is, I would say she is a driven person that knows what she wants. She is a biology major and always knew what she wanted to pursue ever since her mother gave her an anatomy book at a young age.

In high school, Klarissa caught the interest of TLU women’s soccer head coach Kerwin Johnson. In making her decision to come to TLU there was not much thought in going anywhere else. Klarissa liked the New Braunfels area and she would take camping trips to the river with her family every year.

I kind of started my recruiting process late. There were some schools far away and I knew what I wanted, to stay in Texas and what areas I wanted. Coach Kerwin he was actually at one of my games, I was playing club and he was the director of the opposite team we were playing against, so he was there watching. And then I guess he liked how I played and everything. So he reached out after.

-Klarissa Martinez

In preparing for her freshman year, she joined a semi-pro women’s soccer team that had players from division one to pro players from different countries. As she competed against these very experienced players, she took many lessons from it.

To be able to adapt really quickly in a game like play fast, quick feet, quick thinking, that was one of the big things that was big for me. To be able to think quick during the game. That was a big wake up call for me and they helped me so much coming into my freshman year. It was very intense, they were quick, strong, everything. It was an experience for sure.

During preseason, players are battling for a starting position and Klarissa coming in as a freshman earned a starting spot. Going into the first college match of the season, coach Johnson was testing the waters of his new team by making adjustments throughout the game. Down by one against McMurry University, Klarissa made the most out of her opportunity that helped her team tie the game and score her first collegiate goal. 

Oh yeah, I remember. Well that game I was playing defense the whole game and then towards the end he put me up at the top because I think we were down one towards the end of the game. Then he put me at the top and I think I just remember I saw my opportunity. I just poked my foot in there and it just happened to go in. It was a pretty cool feeling, especially the first game.

Klarissa is not the biggest player on the team, but she makes up for it. She uses her speed, aggressiveness, and hustle to make plays. She is also versatile in playing multiple positions such as outback, wing and forward that helps her understand the opponent.  

I can see multiple views of the field and get to know what the defenders are thinking like and how to think as a forward as well. As a forward, whenever I’m playing against the other team, I know what they’re thinking about in their mind as a defender. What they need to do so I can use it to my skill set.

Klarissa has faced obstacles like most student athletes such as not doing so well on a test or having a bad game. Though through those challenges she has a great mindset and her mother to lean on in need.

I just tell myself to keep pushing through because things always get better on the other side. Sometimes when it’s really bad, I’ll call my mom, to have a different perspective on things. She kind of switches it up and everything on my point of view and how I should be looking at stuff versus how I am.

Having a support system and someone to lean on is very important. Sometimes our biggest supporters can be the ones who give us the most confidence.

I think I got pretty lucky with a very supportive family. My parents, they try to come to all my games, my brothers as well. But the person I lean on the most is probably my mom. She’s pretty much there for everything I need, especially before games. So I’ll call her, a little pregame talk and she’s like, “Oh, you got it. Get in there.” and “Don’t forget to be aggressive or take shots.”

In the SCAC championship game Klarissa and her team went into double overtime against Trinity University. Her team lost 1-0 in a tough battle against a very talented team. This year TLU will be losing a couple of seniors that have made an impact on the program. Klarissa will be the one to step up for her senior year. She will be a great leader for next year as every time she steps on the pitch, she gives it everything she has. Karissa will probably go down as one of the best to play at TLU. But she truly wants to help others and is always down for a good time.

Lastly, I wanted to share advice Klarissa gives to girl athletes who want to play college sports in the future.

I would definitely tell them to stay focused on what they want. Know what they want first. If it’s actually what they want to do in college, and if they really want it. To go get it.